He has long advocated for more transparency about the clinical services plan for the yet-to-be-built $57 million Gunnedah Hospital, and has taken his fight for it to be made public all the way to NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard.

In the end, he settled for HNEH chief executive Michael DiRienzo and director of regional and rural health services Susan Heyman hosting a Q and A with local health professionals.

At the meeting, it was confirmed the new facility would be built with the capacity to run renal dialysis and chemotherapy services, and the out-patient services would be improved, but there is still no assurance staff shortages would be addressed.

Mr Chaffey said Wednesday's meeting was an important step in letting the public know what its new hospital would look like.

"It's great that the opportunity has been put forward for those who serve our community on the front line with health services to hear from senior executives with HNEH," he said.

"And the opportunity to ask questions about where we're at with the hospital and the services that will be provided at the new hospital."

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The issue surrounding a lack of staff is something Cr Chaffey is very passionate about, but he acknowledges that it's not a problem that can be easily solved.

He said it is a nation-wide concern, and believes significant changes can only be made by the Commonwealth government.

"I wasn't surprised at all to hear that because when it comes to general practitioners you'll find that the state government and the agencies around health provide infrastructure and community and allied health services," he said.

"But when it comes to recruitment, training and identification of general practitioners that's more the responsibility of the federal government."

Not one to settle for less, Cr Chaffey said Wednesday's meeting must now be followed up and the community needs to be consistently updated as the planning stage develops.

"It was good to see that there were very passionate conversations that were held in there, and informed statements and questions," he said.

"And clearly it's just the beginning of what the Gunnedah community deserve and can expect into the future of the whole process until the new hospital is built."

Further details and planning are likely to begin within three to six months, at which point locals will be consulted on how services can be delivered as part of the master plan's user group stage.

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